The hits kept coming for the Marlins as they recorded their 15th straight game with at least ten hits but the hits with runners on base did not. The Fish left 16 men on base en route to a 6-3 defeat at the hands of the Astros in the second game of a three game series.

Chris Coghlan: 3-5, 2 R, BB, K - Singled twice, tripled, and walked. It was his eleventh multi-hit performance in his last 16 games which ran his OBP up to .376 in the leadoff spot. His night ended with a strikeout after he got in the hole 0-2 but not before he fouled off seven pitches. Coghlan is seeing 4.05 pitches per plate appearance, third amongst NL leadoff hitters.

Jorge Cantu: 1-4, RBI, BB - RBI single in the 1st. In his first seven games this month, Cantu went through a mini-slump in which he saw his OPS drop from .802 to .770. It prompted talks of replacing Cantu with the red hot Dan Uggla. But since then, in his last nine games, Cantu has hit .311 with eight RBIs and a hit in every contest.

Sean West: 4 IP, 6 H, 4 R (3 ER), 2 K - Had just about the worst start to a game that a 22-year old could have, receiving nothing but terrible luck. Instead of two possible outs, he gave up a hit on a perfect bunt single. An error by John Baker allowed the speedy Michael Bourn to get into scoring position and set up Jeff Keppinger's RBI which came on a Jorge Cantu throwing error. The miscues forced West to face Lance Berkman with no outs and frustration mounting. After he gave up the tying run on an RBI line drive, he got what could have and probably should have been the third out. However, because it was only his first out, the Astros got another chance with a runner in scoring position. Not something you want to give to a team hitting .273/.353/.456/.809 in that situation and a young hurler on the mound. Miguel Tejada proved it by roping one down the line and giving the 'Stros the lead. Despite the rough start, though, West showed the composure of a ten year vet (or of Ricky Nolasco last night) in his next inning, coming right back with an 11 pitch inning. He gave up a couple more singles in the 3rd but got out of it fairly easily and made it look like he was going to be able to settle in. However, after he got the first two outs in the 4th, the second of which came on a play that west made ten times harder for Ross Gload by not covering first, he gave up a Humberto Quintero homer to the deepest part of the park, just Quintero's second homer of the year and fourth since the beginning of last season. Because his spot came up with the bases loaded and two outs in the next inning, his night ended there. As West continues to get on-the-job training in the majors, this type of inconsistency can be expected to continue. However, thanks to the porous pitching depth the Marlins have, they currently have no other option.

Hanley Ramirez: 1-4, R, BB - Bases loaded and one out. No better spot for Hanley who hits .417/.385/1.167/1.551 with five homers with the bags loaded, right? He flew out to second base on the first pitch he saw. That allowed Yorman Bazardo to get out of the inning without giving up a run. With the tying run on second, Hanley gave a repeat performance in the 6th, popping up another first pitch to an infielder to prevent the marlins from potentially tying the game on Cantu's 410 foot popout. I know Hanley's the superstar and everything but he never saw the same pitcher twice. For God sakes, Fredi, put the take sign on!

John Baker: 0-4, BB, K - Two errors both of which came with Michael Bourn running the bases. Baker's CS% this year is up from last year but is still at just 20%. His percentage of bunts fielded that resulted in outs is just 71%. That's down from last year's 83% which was still below the league average 85%. Baker has a decent arm, it's just not good when he is crouched and has to rush. That is why he is much better suited for the much less defensively challenging left field. If he ever joins a team with a better offensive catcher, that is where he will be played.

Gaby Sanchez: 0-1, K - For whatever reason, he was already in the front office's doghouse. Striking out with the bases loaded and the tying run on second won't help his cause.

Ross Gload: 1-4, RBI - On top of his 6th inning RBI double that got the Fish to within a run, he made some terrific defensive plays, including one in which he had to make a diving play on a smoked ground ball and a dive to the bag to barely get his man and upwards of six picks on bad throws. Much like his offense, Gload has been up and down on defense this year but I'm sure he'll take his straight 0 in +/- over the -7 he had last year.

Michael Bourn: 3-4, 2 R, RBI, K - Around these parts, as a member of the opposition, you've got to do a lot to get your own paragraph. Not only did Bourn triple in a run, score two runs, steal two bases and force two errors he made two run saving catches, including one in the 6th on a Cantu fly ball that would have plated the tying run. Who knows where this kind of production against the fish came from. Even though he's hitting .385/.448/.500/.948 against them this year, his career line against them is still a meak .250/.361/.385/.745.